Well the sun was out today and one of the items on my list was the a/c.
While down at my pals workshop used there new state of the art machine that they just got, this is my trade anyway so to see some new kit and use it was good.
Did not take long to work it out from the display found the car and model and year then from the list chose the full service which consists of the following:

• Recover refrigerant and displayed amount of refrigerant and oil recovered
• Carried out pressure test
• Carried out vac of system
• Carried out vac test
• Charged with oil
• Charged with leak dye (used with uv light for future leak test)
• Charged with refrigerant to correct charge
• Carried out system test of all sensors and switches on the a/c system

Found that he system was in good health apart from that it was over charged with refrigerant 980 grams when it should have 550!!

Saved me getting out all my kit, nine separate tools to complete the same work.

All ready for the summer now.

 

We use an auto climate machine in the workshop.
Fantastic piece of kit.

Did you check the pollen filter too. As I know allot of garages tend to overlook these.

 

Yep, replaced the pollen filter last month.

 

How much would you expect to pay for such a service normally?

 

Seen this for between £50 to £100 at some places, be sure you go somewhere that knows what they are doing, there are some who use the machine and don't know the principles of how refrigeration works! Which does help, with this in mind some of the machines out there are good and easy to use.
Mine was free

 

Cheers I'll do some ringing round. What is the machine called anyway, does it have a special name or something?

 

All so done my aircon today free of charge as they got all the gear to do it at his work
Had to open the windows on the way home as it was to cold in the car lol

 

The one in post no 2 is good, one used today was a Bosch unit.
Most decent places wil have some type of unit for a/c ther are quite a few, one key part if the unit looks battered then it is most likely not been looked after let alone calibrated.
Anyone handling refrigerant also has to be trained and registered.

 

We Charge £49 for a full aircon service + pollen filter.

The System we use is serviced & calibrated every 12 months

we did a IMI assessment for the safe use and handling of Refrigerant

 

This is what you want to see and know.

 

How often does this need doing? and how do u know when it needs to be done? is it the sort of thing that needs doing yearly and do u notice the difference when done?

 

You will know if it is required, get the inside of the car as hot as possible, max temp and fan on max, then on max cold same max fan, this will put "heat load" on the system and should see about 5-7c from the vent, bear in mind that the car has a internal temp and solar sensors which control the system which in cold weather you will see the compressor cut in/out every 20 seconds ish, with "load" this will be longer.

Does not harm to have annual service at £50 does not break the bank.

 

£49 seems good value as my local dealer wanted £60 just to change the pollen filter 2 years ago!

 

You can get pollen filter from euro car parts for £10 and fit it yourself, 10 min job.

 

I do My own aircon Service once a year foc, Not only does it get used in the summer I also use it as a demister in the winter, I like to make sure everything about my car is in perfect operational order.

echo the above a pollen filter is around the £10 marker from Eurocarparts.

 

sorry to be thick but where isthe pollen filter situated? Is it easy to get to

 

Sounds easier than having to get all the gear out of the van... Even if it is 3 steps away.

Do get some funny looks from people walking past when I'm pressure testing on the drive....

Coincidently, the ofn is handy for replacing the air in tyres too.....

 

+1 Know how you feel, hows the motor?

 

About six screws to remove the glove box and one plug for the light, bolt to remove relay mount and flip up the cover where the filter is remove and reverse of above, 10 min job.

 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Auto-Perfor...fsub=489124319

For anyone needing a pollen filter.